Health Library

Blood in the Urine

What is blood in the urine?

Blood in the urine means there are red blood cells (RBCs) in the urine. Often, the urine looks normal to the naked eye. But when checked under a microscope, it contains a high number of red blood cells. In some cases, the urine is pink, red, or the color of tea, which you can see without a microscope.

What causes blood in the urine?

Most of the causes of blood in the urine are not serious. For example, heavy exercise may cause blood in the urine. This often goes away in a day.

Other, more serious causes include:

Cancer

Kidney infection or disease

Urinary tract infection (UTI)

Enlarged prostate (men only)

Kidney or bladder stones

Certain diseases (like sickle cell anemia and cystic kidney disease)

Injury to the kidneys

Some medicines cause blood in the urine. And many people have it without having any other related problems.

What are the symptoms of blood in the urine?

There may not be enough blood in the urine to change the color. In severe cases, the urine may look pink, red, or tea-colored.

How is blood in the urine diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will review your medical history and do a physical exam. Other tests may include:

Urinalysis. Urine is tested for various cells and chemicals, such as red and white blood cells, germs, or too much protein.

Blood tests. Blood is checked for high levels of waste products.

If these tests aren’t clear you may need other tests, such as:

Ultrasound. An imaging test that uses high-frequency sound waves to make images of the organs of the urinary tract on a computer screen.

Cystoscopy. A thin, flexible tube and viewing device, is put in through the urethra to examine the parts of the urinary tract for structure changes or blockages, such as tumors or stones.

CT scan. A computer-generated X-ray that can image the inner organs, such as the kidneys, ureters and bladder.

How is blood in the urine treated?

If you have blood in your urine that lasts more than a day, see a healthcare provider. This is especially necessary if you have unexplained weight loss, discomfort with urination, frequent urination, or urgent urination.

Treatment will depend on the cause of the blood in the urine.

Key points about blood in urine

Blood in the urine means there are red blood cells (RBCs) in the urine. Often, the urine looks normal. But when checked under a microscope, it contains a high number of red blood cells. In some cases, the urine is pink, red, or the color of tea. This can be seen without the use of a microscope.

Most of the causes of blood in the urine are not serious. For example, in some cases, strenuous exercise will cause blood in the urine.